NEW INFO: Alleged Child Abductor Appears Before Judge

The convicted sex offender accused of abducting a 12-year-old girl from the east three weeks ago appeared before a Carteret County judge this morning.

Timothy Newman, 38, was booked in the Carteret County jail Saturday. He was extradited from Broward County, Florida where he was caught on September 26th.

Newman is accused of abducting 12-year-old Abigaile Lefevers, which sparked an amber alert across the south. He's already facing several charges regarding that abduction, and sheriff's officials say that numerous sexual charges are expected as well.

Newman's bond remains at $1.2 million. The district attorney said if convicted of all the charges, Newman faces a possible maximum of 25 years to life.

Newman was given a court appointed attorney and has an October 26th court date.

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The man accused of abducting a Newport girl in late September is back in North Carolina to face the charges against him.

The Carteret County Jail center says that 38-year-old Timothy Newman arrived just before 6 p.m. He is being held on a 1.2 million dollar bond.

Lawmen say Newman abducted 12-year-old Abigaile Lefevers, before being caught by the Hallendale Beach Police Department in Broward County, Florida.

The Carteret County Sheriff's Office says that Newman is expected to be charged with numerous sexual based offenses.

Newman has already been charged by federal authorities on two counts of felony enticing a child across state lines. He is also charged by Carteret County with felony child abduction, two counts of felony identity theft, misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor unauthorized use a a vehicle.----------------------Previous story:

The registered sex offender accused of abducting a 12-year-old girl from Newport will soon be in North Carolina to face the charges against him.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office in Florida says Timothy Newman was transferred to law enforcement in North Carolina at 6 a.m. Friday.

There is no indication yet of when he will arrive in Beaufort to be held in the Carteret County Jail.

Newman has been charged by federal authorities on two counts of felony enticing a child across state lines. He is also charged by Carteret County with felony child abduction, two counts of felony identity theft, misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor unauthorized use a a vehicle.

Authorities say Newman abducted Abigaile Lefevers. Her father reported her missing on Monday, September 24. The two were found in South Florida on Wednesday, September 26.

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The father of an abducted girl who returned home Tuesday night underwent a drug test this morning.

Abigaile Lefevers was escorted home by seven Carteret County deputies after being flown from Florida on an SBI plane.

The 12-year-old was the center of a search last week after she disappeared from her home Sunday night. Timothy Newman, a convicted sex offender, has been charged with her abduction.

Newman has now been charged by federal authorities on two counts of felony enticing a child across state lines. He is also charged by Carteret County with felony child abduction, two counts of felony identity theft, misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor unauthorized use a a vehicle.

Florida authorities have also charged the man with grand theft auto.

This morning the girl's father sat down with WITN's Brittany Creamer. Abigaile was inside their trailer and not seen, as the father says authorities asked him not to allow the girl to speak with us.

Lefevers says he went to the Department of Social Services this morning for a drug test. He did not elaborate.

D.S.S. had been at his trailer this weekend, and Lefevers says they found no problems.

He says Abigaile will soon return to school, and he has taken away her cell phone and Facebook privileges.

Newman has agreed to voluntarily return to North Carolina to face charges and could be back within the next ten days.

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Robert Lefevers tells WITN that his daughter is back home with him in Newport.

12-year-old Abigaile was greeted by neighbors and her little brother as seven deputies escorted her home.

Abigaile arrived at the Beaufort airport on an SBI plane just after 4:00 p.m. and then was home by 5:00 p.m.

We spoke to Abigaile by phone. She told us she's glad to be home and excited be back.

Robert Lefevers told us he did not want to do an interview at this time, but will talk with us Wednesday.

Meantime, the man charged with abducting Abigaile and driving her to Florida has waived extradition back to North Carolina. Officials say Timothy Newman will be returned to Carteret County within the next 10 days.

38-year-old Timothy Newman faces federal charges after authorities say he abducted the girl more than a week ago and drove her to Florida.

Previous StoryThe father of a 12-year-old from Carteret County abducted by a sex offender says his daughter is expected to return home Tuesday or Wednesday.

Robert Lefevers says the Department of Social Services visited his home Sunday and said that everything was OK.

38-year-old Timothy Newman faces federal charges after authorities say he abducted the girl more than a week ago and drove her to Florida.

PREVIOUS STORY:A man who authorities say abducted a 12-year-old girl, taking her to Florida, is now facing federal charges.

A federal court document states Newman told agents he used the code name "Monkey" in texts so they wouldn't get caught by the girl's father.

The girl told FBI agents in the affidavit that they planed their escape through text messages "and other forms of communication." It says Newman picked up the girl at a previously agreed upon location and that he threw away their cell phones in South Carolina.

The document says Newman told the FBI that he had a relationship with the child since July and planned to try to marry her. Because of the specific details in the affidavit and the crimes involved, WITN is not posting the document online.

The father of the girl originally said he expected to be reunited with his daughter on Saturday. He says that has been delayed and believes she may possibly return home Tuesday.

Robert Lefevers tells WITN News that the FBI has Abigaile in their custody in Florida where she is being treated for head lice. He says there is no confirmation that the girl was physically abused during her three days with Timothy Newman.

Lefevers says he's been told Abigaile will be turned over to North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agents who will fly her back to the state.

Deputies say the 38-year-old Newman abducted the child Sunday night or early Monday in Carteret County and the two drove to Florida.

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The Broward County Sheriff's Office says they have located a 12-year-old girl who had been missing from Carteret County since Sunday with a registered sex offender.

Carteret County Detectives say they have confirmation from the Hallandale Beach Police Department in Broward County Florida that Timothy Newman has been taken into custody and Abigaile Lefevers is safe with police.

Authorities say Abigaile Lefevers and Timothy Newman were found in the parking lot near a fast food restaurant on Hallandale Beach Boulevard about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Hallandale Beach.

Police say Newman's vehicle was spotted by officers who stopped the car near a Denny's Restaurant on South Dixie Highway near Interstate 95. Newman was taken into custody without incident.

The girl's father, Robert Lefevers, tells WITN he is glad they found his daughter. He says authorities were able to track where Newman and Abigaile were because they tried to use Robert Lefevers stolen debit card a 2nd time at a gas station in Florida after they used it in Jacksonville, NC Monday to withdraw $100.

Lefevers was last seen at her home in Newport in Carteret County over the weekend. An Amber Alert for the teenager was issued Monday.

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A Miami television station says suspected child abductor Timothy Newman may be in south Florida.

WTVJ, the NBC station, is reporting that authorities in Coral Gables are checking surveillance video at a Mobil gas station to see if Newman used a credit or debit card at the business.

The station says the FBI, Florida Law Enforcement Division agents and other police are at the scene on South Dixie Highway.

Stay with WITN News and witn.com for more on this developing story.

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The mother of a convicted sex offender is asking her son to turn himself in. Timothy Newman is accused of abducting a 12 year old girl sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning in Carteret County.

Abigaile Lefevers has now been missing almost three days. Her dad says he last saw his daughter Sunday night around 10:00 p.m.

This afternoon Newman's mother issued a statement to WITN News. "We are devastated and we are praying and trusting for them both to be returned safely, and we ask that if Tim can hear us to please turn himself in," said Laura Newman.

Deputies say they now believe the two may be headed to Florida. The Amber Alert has been extended to Georgia.

Carteret County deputies have obtained search warrants for Newman's electronic devices. Newman right now is facing a child abduction charge.

Abigaile's father, Robert Lefevers, says two weeks ago he confronted Newman about texting his daughter and the man said he would stop. Lefevers says Newman used his debit card around 12:43 a.m. Monday at the Marine Federal Credit Union on Western Boulevard in Jacksonville, taking $100 from his account.

The father says Abigaile's mother died in February and the mother's birthday is coming up. He believes Newman used that to convince his daughter to leave with him. Robert Lefevers' own mother lives across the street from Newman's trailer and he says that's how they met.

Lefevers says investigators told him that text messages showed Newman asked his daughter to find some hotels "from here south". He believes his daughter went willingly with the man.

Robert Lefevers says Abigaile is a straight A student at Broad Creek Middle School.

Carteret County Sheriff's Captain Jason Wank says they've gotten warrants for the man's computers, cell phone and other potential methods of communication in an attempt to track down the two.

Authorities say their investigation show the two may be en route from South Carolina to Florida. Earlier they believed Newman and Lefevers might be hanging around marinas near Myrtle Beach, or elsewhere along the South Carolina coast. They says Newman is familiar with the Atlantic coast because his father was a large boat captain. The former truck driver also may be driving back roads to avoid police.

Newman's vehicle is a Red 1998 Chrysler Sebring with NC license tag number AKT6534. It was last seen around 1:42 A.M. Monday on U.S.17 near the South Carolina Border.

The man is on the sex registry because of two convictions that he engaged in a sex offense with a 14 year old girl in Stokes County. He got out of prison last year.

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Carteret County deputies now have a warrant out for the registered sex offender who is suspected of taking a 12-year-old girl. The man's roommate says the two texted every single night.

Timothy Newman was last seen about the same time Abigaile Lefevers disappeared from her home. An Amber Alert was issued for the girl Monday night and now deputies have issued an arrest warrant for Newman, charging him with child abduction.

Today deputies were at Newman's home on Bogue Loop Road, speaking with the roommate. Deputies say their investigation shows that Newman has had contact with the missing girl in the past several weeks. This as the Amber Alert has been extended to all southern states and the FBI is now involved in the case.

Newman's roommate told WITN that all he wants is for the little girl to be brought back safe.

Van Jarman says he met Newman at work. He said every single night he could hear the two of them texting back and forth. Jarman said Newman had talked about the girl once before, telling him she was 17 years old. The roommate says he never met the girl.

Jarman say he has a gut feeling the two are headed south, and may eventually end up in the Bahamas.

Monday night a tearful father spoke with WITN outside the Sheriff's Office, making a plea to his daughter. "Abigaile if you're out there watching me right now baby, please just come home," said Robert Lefevers. "Daddy's not mad, we can work through anything that this is, just please come home. Please come home baby."

Newman's vehicle is a Red 1998 Chrysler Sebring with NC license tag number AKT6534. It was last seen around 1:42 A.M. Monday on U.S.17 near the South Carolina Border.

The man is on the sex registry because of two convictions that he engaged in a sex offense with a 14 year old girl in Stokes County.

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There is now an Amber Alert for a missing 12-year-old girl who authorities believe is with a register sex offender.

Carteret County deputies say Abigaile Lefevers was last seen by her father Sunday night around 10:00 p.m. at their home. When he awoke around 6:25 a.m. he noticed she was missing. The girl's pink book bag with a peace sign on it is also gone.

Abigaile's father Robert told us, "Abigaile if you're out there watching me right now baby, please just come home. Daddy's not mad, we can work through anything that this is, just please come home. Please come home baby."

Deputies say they believe she is with 38-year-old Timothy Newman. Newman, who lives in the Newport area, is a registered sex offender and deputies say their investigation shows that he has had contact with the missing girl in the past several weeks.

Deputies say Newman was last seen around 10:00 p.m. Sunday by his roommate. They say the roommate noticed him gone this morning and the man did not show up for work this morning. He is described at 5'09", weighs 247 pounds, and has hazel eyes and brown hair.

Robert tells us he did know Newman. He says, "I didn't know that he was capable of taking my daughter and running off with her."

Newman's vehicle is a Red 1998 Chrysler Sebring with NC license tag number AKT6534. It was last seen around 1:42 A.M. on U.S.17 near the South Carolina Border.

Anyone with information on Abigaile or Newman's whereabouts should immediately call the Carteret County Sheriff's Office at 252-504-4800.

The Department of Correction says Newman was convicted in Stokes County in 2004 for two counts of sex offenses by substitute parent/custodian. He served 6 years and 9 months in prison and was released last year from the prison in Carteret County.

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